Vögte Cultural Route: City Walk Gera

The best-known relic from the time of the Vögte is the prominently visible keep of Osterstein Castle on the Hainberg, above the Gera district of Untermhaus. It is the remains of the medieval castle complex and was part of the later residence castle of the princes Reuß younger line, which was destroyed in World War II.

Today, only some annex buildings and the keep remain. With its park-like surroundings and terrace café, the site is a popular excursion destination for the people of Gera. The dominating building, however, is the St. Mary's Church. The church traces back to a medieval chapel from around 1200. The oldest parts are built in late Gothic style. An art-historical treasure is the winged altar from the 15th century, regarded as a masterpiece of High Gothic. Next to the church, the Otto Dix Museum is dedicated to contemporary art.

Over the Elster bridge, you reach the Orangerie via an avenue – today the seat of the city's art collections – and finally the magnificent theater in the Neo-Renaissance and Art Nouveau style, now a vibrant five-division house. The City Museum is a prominent, elaborately renovated baroque building. It was built from 1724-1739 as a reformatory and orphanage on the site of the Marienhospital founded in the 15th century.